News broadcast of Mo. cop's home inspires outrage

About 150 people including police stood in front of news station KSDK late Sunday to rally in support of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson

By Margaret Gillerman
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — About 150 people including law enforcement officers stood in front of KSDK (Channel 5) on Market Street late Sunday afternoon to rally in support of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, the officer police say shot and killed Michael Brown, 18, on Aug. 9.

Across the street were about 15 people who opposed the pro-Wilson rally. They said they learned about the rally through social media only after it had started.

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Some people at the pro-Wilson rally said they were protesting the station because a broadcast was held in front of Wilson's home.

KSDK issued an apology after airing the broadcast and said that the station "immediately felt using that video was a mistake and pulled the video of the home from future newscasts and from our web site."

At the rally, police and relatives of police said media coverage generally has been unfair, and they want their voices heard.

They carried signs that said: "We love and support you Darren", "Pray for peace in Ferguson" and "Justice takes time; Assumption takes seconds; Please be fair; Wait for the facts."

Martin Baker, a 2014 unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primary for the Congressional district that includes north St. Louis County, was among the people at the rally.

"I'm supporting due process of law and a fair and unbiased and honest investigation," he said.

Becky Noble, Baker's former campaign manager, said," I'm here to support my friend who's a police officer, and to support law enforcement. The level and hatred and disrespect I've seen for law enforcement just in this last week is disgusting. It's truly disturbing."

A man who said he was an undercover police officer and could not give his name was one of the leaders. The rally was posted on the Support Darren Wilson Facebook page, which shows thousands of supporters.

Rally organizers sold navy T-shirts with a picture of a white police badge with Wilson's name. Others at the rally wore T-shirts bearing the emblems of other police departments. Cars drove by honking in support.

On the pro-Wilson side, a staff sergeant stationed at Scott Air Force Base said, "It seems right now that you're only hearing one side from the media. There are other sides to the story."

Across the street, Aminah Lewis, 36, of St. Louis said she was there to counter the pro-Wilson rally because "I strongly believe Michael Brown was killed unfairly and as a human being, we all should expect to be treated fairly and not like a dog."

Ryan Wordsmith, 32, of University City, said, "I don't support the slaughter of unarmed civilians in broad daylight in the middle of the street. We come in peace."